I have to admit I was a little depressed today to return to my normal life after a week of birthday festivities. It was a rough transition back to the world. But now that I’m FORTY, I’m old enough to know I’ll live through it.

Here’s what I did, with pictures!

On my birthday eve, I had an amazing dinner at Fenouil with The Man that included some truly outstanding foie gras and a panna cotta with a sorrel gelee and a radish/peach/scallion/salt garnish (I’m a huge fan of sorrel, and inventive desserts). They even wrote “Happy Birthday, Melanie” in chocolate sauce on my plate, which made me feel the joy-happiness-wild-abandon of a five-year-old. Sadly, I don’t have the proper technology to get the picture from my phone onto my blog. Argh.

Spent my birthday-day meeting with friends for coffee and chocolates, and an incredible lunch brought to my house by DL of his amazing homemade pates (duck/hazelnut/cherry and pork in all forms) and a PLATTER of Steve’s cheeses. HOOOOO.

Yes, we ate ALL of this.

Had another rich and festive dinner at Park Kitchen with a few pals who provided great conversation. YEA!

Joined a bigger group of pals for Darcelle XV’s exceptionally entertaining drag show. I can confidently say that I will never in my life forget her rendition of Glenn Campbell’s, “Rhinestone Cowboy.” VIVA DARCELLE! You made it…memorable!

LIZA!!! An INSPIRED performance!!!

Soaked up a lot of booze red wine at Potato Champion, as one does after such a night.

The REAL Potato Champion.

Ran off the next morning with The Man to the wilds of eastern Oregon like a pair of hillbilly newlyweds, camping for three nights and racking up 81 bird species, a personal best.

Pickle and The Man enjoy a nature hike on the Blitzen River, Oregon.

Basked in the glow of the best friends and best birthday ever. I hope the rest of the year is half as good.

Get New Posts by Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

About

Diagnosed with celiac disease (dermatitis herpetiformis) in 2004, I've been gluten-free since then. Because the GF diet hasn't seemed to work for me, I'm trying the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. No grains, no sugar, no potatoes, and limited dairy. Here's what I do eat.
If you're looking for my fiction and freelance writing, it's over here.
Name: Melanie Jennings
Location: Portland, OR, USA